RSU 19 to once again vote on loan proposal

NEWPORT, Maine (NEWS CENTER) --- Voters in Newport's school district will head back to the polls next week where they will once again have to decide whether the district should get a loan to fix a massive budget crisis.

RSU 19 went into this school year carrying a big budget shortfall. Schools have already had to face spending freezes, layoffs and cutbacks because of it. Twice district voters rejected taking out a loan to handle the crisis. School leaders say such a move is necessary to avoid further cuts and layoffs.

Monday night, voters decided once again to send the loan question back to the polls. School leaders are now asking to pursue $2.8 million for RSU 19. Superintendent Greg Potter says without the loan more cuts are inevitable.

"As I explained tonight the vice gets tighter and tighter as you move towards the end of the year," he said, "so my concern is we're going to have to..to take more aggressive action with cuts and spending as we finish out the year."

The loan question will go to a district wide referendum on March 8, 2013. Polls will be open district wide from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Informational meetings will be held in the following places before decision day:

Corinna at Corinna Elementary School -- Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 7 p.m.

Palmyra at Palmyra Community Center --- Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.

Hartland at Hartland Consolidated School --- Monday, March 4, 2013 at 7 p.m.